Steve Smith suspended for the first two games

CHARLOTTE – The Carolina Panthers have suspended three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Steve Smith for the first two games of the regular season for his involvement in a training camp fight on Friday with cornerback Ken Lucas.

Smith, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, will continue to practice when training camp resumes on Monday and will be allowed to participate in preseason games, according to coach John Fox.

The Panthers are off on Sunday.

“What (Smith) did was wrong and we take very serious and he is being punished severely for it,” Fox said.

Lucas left the practice field at Wofford College on Friday with ice over his left eye after taking a punch from Smith after an argument on the sidelines became heated. Several eyewitnesses said Smith punched Lucas while Lucas was in a defenseless position resting on one knee.

Fox said Lucas has a broken nose.

"He is doing fine and he's in great mental spirits which is critical," Fox said. "It could have been worse. Not that a broken nose is not bad enough, but we will treat it as we go."

The Panthers could have suspended Smith up to four games.

"You to try to do what is fair. It is something that is inexcusable. It's a pretty severe punishment," Fox said.

Smith will miss the season opener at San Diego on Sept. 7 and the home opener the following Sunday against Chicago.

When asked if he thinks Smith and Lucas can patch things up and help the team be productive, Fox replied, "I believe so, but time will tell."

Fox also seemed to issue a stern warning toward Smith and his future actions.

"He is still ours and he will have conditions," Fox said. "He knows what those are and we will move forward."

Lucas did not practice on Saturday at Fan Fest and is listed as day-to-day. However, he come into the locker room on Saturday morning and talk with his teammates.

...My thoughts exactly. That's a stiff penalty that certainly won't help the rest of the team. Honestly, I don't mind him missing the opener:lol: Sometimes the Bolts start off flat and this is the one guy on that offense that scares me.

I don't know why everyone is forfeiting the SD game... their good, but when healthy we are BETTER! SS does not play defense, SS does not play special teams anymore.... We always do well on season openers on the road, the Chargers will take the game a little lightly and we will "sucka punch" them at their own house! As much as I like Smith, our season hinges on Jake's arm more than Steve Smith. We still have two top RB's that will need to be dealt with by the Charger D, a reliable TE who can get the short yardage (King), a solid vet WR who has great chemistry with Jake (Moose). We have one of the best up and coming MLB's in the GAME, one of the hardest hitting Strong Safeties in the game, one of the best CB trio in the game. I personally am not ready to chalk up SD as a loss....

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Dont forget guys
Gates will most likely be out, LT coming off a injury and Phillip Rivers coming off an injury...We will most likely be healthy...

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Maybe I'm just drinking the cool ade but with our LBs I really dont think Gates can make a difference. He's not that fast just can jump and our LBs can lay the wood so he might have to think twice. Also with the new rule in place our LBs can push I'm out of bounds in the air and it will not count as a pass. Thats where is has made in money the past seasons.

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IMO i think we have more threats than the Chargers..

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we still have all the talent for a monster running game, a great D, and still have atleast 2 very capable recivers.

get the running game going and jake will make the passes he needs to moose/hackett/jarett.

...My thoughts exactly. That's a stiff penalty that certainly won't help the rest of the team. Honestly, I don't mind him missing the opener:lol: Sometimes the Bolts start off flat and this is the one guy on that offense that scares me.

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You understand though that Smith sucker punched Lucas when Lucas was on one knee. Third fight he has been in. I think it could have been a worse penalty